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Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Clinton, Obama steal Bush's final show — All eyes were on Democratic presidential frontrunners Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) Monday night as spectators and pundits followed their every move during President Bush's final State of the Union address.
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Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
NY NOW: “Betrayal!” — Whoa. The New York State chapter of the National Organization for Women attacked Ted Kennedy for his endorsement today with some real heat.. The Times Union reported it first (writing, “'Scathing' feels inadequate here."), and I confirmed its authenticity with the president of the organization, Marcia Pappas.
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Peter Baker / Washington Post:
Final Year's Realities Push Big Ideas Into Background — Gone were the grand dreams of remaking Social Security, immigration law or the tax code. In their place were modest initiatives, such as hiring preferences for military spouses. The economic package targeted tax breaks to low- and middle-class workers.
Think Progress:
Embargoed: State of the Union Text — We'll start respecting White House embargoes when they start telling the truth. Here is President Bush's FINAL State of the Union address: — EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY January 28, 2008 — STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS — As Prepared for Delivery
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New York Sun, Daily Kos, The Crone Speaks, The Democratic Daily, Taylor Marsh, D-Day and Left in the West
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Glenn Reynolds / Instapundit.com:
OKAY, I HAVE TO GLOAT JUST A BIT: Bush led off with earmarks. His actions aren't as bold as I'd like, but still — back in 2005 when PorkBusters started, nobody in Washington cared and members of Congress were bragging about pork. Now the State of the Union leads of with an attack on earmarks, to thundering applause.
Andrew Malcolm / Los Angeles Times:
Breaking News: Rudy Giuliani hints at dropping out — Rudy Giuliani appears to be pondering an end to his long pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination. — In a meeting in the back of his chartered plane en route to St. Petersburg, Fla., a short while ago, the onetime …
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Chicago Tribune:
Cash to fugitive's family — Some of the $3.5 million went to pay off certain Rezko debts, while $20,000 went to the family of Alber Najjar, who also had extensive connections with Rezko's food companies but became a federal fugitive in 2004 when he fled to Lebanon following his indictment on bookmaking charges, prosecutors said.
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CNN:
CNN RELIABLE SOURCES — Obama Wins Big in South Carolina; Bill Clinton Scolds Journalists — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. — HOWARD KURTZ, HOST (voice over): Race talk. Barack Obama stuns the media establishment …
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Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Video: Olby names Mary Katharine Ham “worst person in the world” — What deadly sin could she have committed to earn such a distinction? Quote: … Mind you, she's referring to a man whom certain members of the press literally offered to fellate. But never mind that.
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
Today's FISA vote — This morning, I wrote extensively about today's vote on the FISA filibuster and related matters here, but am starting a new post now to live-blog the proceedings, which have now begun in the Senate (and can be viewed on C-SPAN here). That earlier post should be read for background.
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Frank James / The Swamp:
At SOTU, Obama's Clinton snub was the news — So President Bush has delivered his last State of the Union. And what everyone in the House press gallery is talking about isn't the speech. Rather, it's the snub. — Sen. Barack Obama refused to make himself available to greet Sen. Hillary Clinton before the speech.
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New York Times
Dan Froomkin / Washington Post:
Is Anyone Listening? — President Bush has a lot to accomplish in tonight's State of the Union address. He needs to lay out a plausible agenda for his final year in office, justify a war that the American people overwhelmingly oppose, stave off a recession and persuade the nation and the world that he's not been a colossal failure.
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Discourse.net
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Shaun Mullen / The Moderate Voice:
The Story of the George Bush Presidency: Unstable, Unfinished & Uncomprehending — Hard to believe, but I still can muster a modicum of sympathy for George Walker Bush. This is because it is apparent after the last seven long years that this son of the Texas oil patch really didn't know what hit him …
Adam Liptak / New York Times:
Illegal Globally, Bail for Profit Remains in U.S. — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Wayne Spath is a bail bondsman, which means he is an insurance salesman, a social worker, a lightly regulated law enforcement agent, a real estate appraiser — and a for-profit wing of the American justice system.
Bob Herbert / New York Times:
Investing in America — On a quiet Wednesday morning last August, Senators Chris Dodd and Chuck Hagel held a news conference in Washington to discuss what they felt was a critical issue: the nation's deteriorating infrastructure. — The press was not impressed.
The Huffington Post:
Speech Text: Democratic Response By Gov. Kathleen Sebelius — Remarks as prepared for delivery by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius: — An American Call to Action — I'm Kathleen Sebelius, Governor of the State of Kansas. — And I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with you tonight.
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